Which of Your Foodservice Clients May Not Benefit from Melamine Dinnerware

As a skilled salesperson, you know that not every product is a fit for every client. That’s why you work hard to effectively target your clients to offer them useful solutions to their problems. And that’s why your clients see you as a resource and trusted business partner.

You also probably know that melamine dinnerware is an excellent fit for a huge range of foodservice clients. However, some operational practices can create displeasing results due to higher than expected replacement rates for a handful of your clients.

Here at G.E.T., we aim to use our 30+ years’ experience as leaders in melamine dinnerware to be a resource and business partner for you.

Because melamine dinnerware is a great fit for almost any kind of operation, it’s more effective to share the short list of ones that aren't. This knowledge will help you to:

Because the main component in melamine dinnerware is wood pulp, it dries out when it’s repeatedly exposed to high heat over time. That’s what leads to the decrease in durability and the loss of shine. Manufacturers know this, which is why plenty of them include a heat-related caveat in their warranties.

This small group of clients will likely be better off with china because it can withstand high heat better than melamine.

However, for the ample number of operators who only use their plateware to plate food before it’s served, melamine is a great option because:

Your clients can achieve the beautiful presentations they desire

Its service life is 50%-100% longer than china, thanks to its durability

Melamine Dinnerware Stays Young With Steak Knives Out of the Picture

All plateware, whether melamine or china, can scratch over time. However, if your client is serving steaks, china is likely a better option for them.

Steak knives can scratch the surface of melamine dinnerware, resulting in a shorter service life than using everyday spoons, forks, and knives. Additionally, if a custom design or decal is applied to the plateware, the scratches can cut through the protective layer on top and compromise the artwork's appearance. All this can leave your clients' plates looking tired and in need of replacement.

Keep Colors Vibrant: Kick the Bleach

Bleach has many useful applications, but it’s not great for cleaning melamine dinnerware because it’s a whitener and will ultimately lead to less than stellar looking tabletops.

Bleach will:

Sanitize, yes, but there are other bleach-free ways to meet that end like quat sanitizers

Discolor, dull, and fade the surface, leading to unsightly dinnerware and unhappy guests

Many low-temp dishwashers rely on bleach for sanitizing tableware as opposed to high-temp dishwashers which sanitize with heat. If your client uses a low-temp dishwasher, they can easily work with their local detergent experts and providers to find a bleach-free alternative that effectively sanitizes.

If Your Client’s Guests Can’t be Trusted – In Other Words, Don’t Sell to Detention Centers

The needs of detention center populations may be far from the minds of most law-abiding citizens like you. However, they’re worth paying attention to because detention center occupants have to eat just like the rest of us.

While melamine is one of the most – if not the most – durable materials for dinnerware on the market, it's not unbreakable. And because of its superior durability, if it’s broken, it can make for a hearty, possibly quite sharp piece of weaponry. We’re not saying that all detention center populations fall into the “cannot be trusted with dinnerware” category, but some certainly do.

If you’re working with a dinnerware provider for detention centers, we recommend reaching out to local wardens for a list of approved dining hall materials. They may vary by county, region, or the security level of detention centers.

Fine Dining Establishments Crave a Different Kind of Buzz

Melamine dinnerware can look just as upscale as fine china. However, it won't necessarily solve the same pain points for fine dining that most other foodservice operations face because fine dining simply focuses on a different set of priorities. Therefore, this customer group won't be as motivated as the rest of their industry peers to consider melamine.

Their table service is typically slower and more refined than most establishments. This means servers are not rushing around to "turn and burn" tables, which can create ample opportunity to bump into people and things, often resulting in broken china.

Fortunately for you, fine dining only accounts for about 10% of foodservice operations. That leaves you with 90% of the market share that can benefit from melamine plateware. So, with all this opportunity to sell melamine tableware, why choose G.E.T. over other players in the space? Because we're not like other providers in ways that you'll love.

How G.E.T. Is Different from Other Melamine Tableware Providers

Creating the best possible experience for our dealer sales reps before, during, and after the sale is paramount to us here at G.E.T. because you’re a vital part of our success. We do this by:

Always standing behind our products so you can sell with confidence

Offering an easy-to-use sample request program that allows you and your clients to hold and feel our industry-leading melamine dinnerware, making a strong emotional connection

Creating peace of mind for you and your clients by certifying each melamine product we carry through NSF International, which means we only offer products made with pure melamine, food-safe design features, and many other benefits